I haven’t been able to update my blog in a while for a few reasons. Chiefly, my beloved dog passed away. I knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it easier, does it? I’m fine, but the world feels very strange. It feels strange anyway, with the Lockdown happening around me, but little moments… Continue reading The New Abnormal
Originally serialised in Playboy Magazine (in Japan) between May to October of 1968, Life For Sale wasn’t available to read in The UK for decades. Thankfully Penguin Classics decided to turn Yukio Mishima’s stories into a novel and, with the help of Stephen Dodd’s translation which makes the story accelerate along, this classic by is… Continue reading Life For Sale by Yukio Mishima
A few weeks ago Trump was telling people that Coronavirus was a Democrat hoax. That man perpetuates blatant fraud and gets away with it because his Twitter distracts everybody, including the press. If this virus doesn't make Trump's supporters understand how wholly ineffective he is as a leader, then nothing will. I wish Britain would… Continue reading Coronavirus? F* *k Off!
Now that the news is out about Happiness Is Wasted On Me (it’s available to pre-order hint hint hint), I can’t get myself sorted for actually getting out and about, promoting it. I’ve been speaking to some venues, looking at doing live shows, or literary salons. They’re the only salons I go to! Everything is… Continue reading Walking back to Happiness…
Just incase you don't know I have a new book to plug (it's in the contract that I promote it), then here's a quick recap: My first novel for adults is now available for pre-order. You can buy it in lots of places. Waterstones I use a lot of bookshops. Waterstones is one of them.… Continue reading Ways of pre-ordering Happiness is Wasted on Me
Hello. I'm glad you're here. Alright, let me set the scene. It's cold outside. Really cold. From where I'm seated, middle-cushion on the couch with the window facing me, it looks like the biggest bag of icing sugar in the world has been sprinkled over my garden. My living room is warm. I'm drinking hot… Continue reading My New Book
Rewind all the way back to 2010. I'm lost. I'm angry, a result of what I witnessed one dark night in 1998. That kind of violence changes a person, makes them cold and distant. Somehow, along the way, I've become a troll long before the term was invented. Ask me, however, and I'll tell you… Continue reading A tale of ten years
There are certain opinions enshrined in music journalism by music journalists. For the most part their thoughts remain unchallenged, unchanged. These edicts have been chipped into the rock of rock music itself. You know what I’m talking about, of course. Nevermind is the best Nirvana album. Blur won the battle, Oasis won the war. Sgt… Continue reading Hall Of Fame: Adore by Smashing Pumpkins
Some books fade fast, their effect fleeting. Other books remain, powerful and potent. Shirley Jackson wrote those sorts of books. They haunt the reader for a long time after the last page. I've long been a fan of Shirley Jackson; well, that's not quite accurate. I was a fan of The Haunting of Hill House,… Continue reading The Shirley Jackson Fan Club (Sign Me Up!)
Some writers defy categorisation. They cannot be filed, stamped, or absorbed. Yes, you may find their books in certain areas of the book shop or the library, but essentially these writers remain difficult to anticipate, their work always surprising and interesting. I'd place Francesca Lia Block, Cory Doctorow, Sam Pink, Kathy Acker, Jason Starr, Jeff… Continue reading I Wanted To Write About Robert Cormier
